Chartpack Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: December 2010 December 2010
SLIDE 1 Views on Health Reform Remain Divided As you may know, a new health reform bill was signed into law earlier this year. Given what you know about the new health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it? Favorable Unfavorable Don t know/refused 46% 44% 48% 5 45% 49% 44% 42% 42% 41% 41% 43% 42% 41% 35% 1 12% 11% 15% SLIDE 2 Views on Health Reform Law Differ Sharply by Party Self Identification As you may know, a new health reform bill was signed into law earlier this year. Given what you know about the new health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it? Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorable Very unfavorable Total 22% 27% Democrats 41% 1 6% Independents 23% 16% Republicans 4% 8% 58% Note: Don t know/refused answers not shown. 1
SLIDE 3 Confusion Ticks Back Down Percent who say that each of the following describes their feelings about the health reform law: CONFUSED 55% 44% 42% 43% 45% 53% 47% 52% 43% ENTHUSIASTIC ANGRY 3 3 3 35% 33% 3 3 3 SLIDE 4 Anger More General Than Specific to Health Reform Percent who say that angry describes their feelings about the health reform law: Among the 3 who feel angry about the health reform law: Would you say you are angry about health reform in particular, or would you say that you are angry about the general direction in Washington and health reform is one of many things upsetting you? 3 3 3 Angry about health reform in particular 81% Angry about the general direction in Washington and health reform is one of many upsetting things 1% Don t know/ Refused 2
SLIDE 5 Divided as to What Next for Health Reform Which of the following comes closest to your view of what lawmakers in Washington should do with the new health reform law: Expand law Leave law as is Repeal parts of law Repeal entire law Total 21% 26% Democrats 34% 19% 6% Independents 17% Republicans 4% 8% 55% Note: Don t know/refused answers not shown. SLIDE 6 Unfavorable Views of Health Reform Among Seniors at New Low As you may know, a new health reform bill was signed into law earlier this year. Given what you know about the new health reform law, do you have a generally favorable or generally unfavorable opinion of it? AMONG SENIORS (age 65 and over) Favorable Unfavorable Don t know/refused 56% 51% 51% 46% 53% 49% 52% 46% 35% 38% 34% 38% 38% 34% 12% 17% 13% 13% 16% 16% 26% 3
SLIDE 7 Seniors Perception of Health Reform s Impact on Medicare Do you think the Medicare program will be better off or worse off under the new health reform law, or don t you think it will make much difference? AMONG SENIORS (age 65 and over) Better off Won t make much difference Worse off 43% 42% 39% 22% 23% 22% 19% 21% Jul10 Sep10 Oct10 Dec10 Note: Depends (vol.) and Don t know/refused answers not shown. SLIDE 8 No Agreement as to Whether Country Will Benefit Do you think the country as a whole will be better off or worse off under the new health reform law, or don t you think it will make much difference? Better off Won t make much difference Worse off 59% 57% 53% President Obama signs health care reform bill into law on March 23, 2010 45% 45% 45% 45% 42% 39% 39% 19% 19% 34% 34% 35% 37% 34% 37% 12% 16% 12% 17% 12% 11% 19% 15% Feb09 Apr09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Nov09 Dec09 Jan10 Feb10 Mar10 Note: Depends (vol.) and Don t know/refused answers not shown. 4
SLIDE 9 Perception of Positive Personal Impact Back Up to Pre Election Level Do you think you and your family will be better off or worse off under the new health reform law, or don t you think it will make much difference? Better off Won t make much difference Worse off President Obama signs health care reform bill into law on March 23, 2010 43% 38% 41% 39% 36% 35% 34% 36% 27% 27% 27% 26% 39% 36% 33% 3 3 29% 29% 16% 11% Feb09 Apr09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Nov09 Dec09 Jan10 Feb10 Mar10 Note: Depends (vol.) and Don t know/refused answers not shown. SLIDE 10 Access to Benefits Positive Experience of Health Reform Law So far, would you say you and your family have personally benefited from the health reform law, or not? Among the 15% who say they have benefited from the health reform law: In what ways would you say you have benefited from the health reform law? 81% No 15% Yes 4% Benefit Percent who mentioned Access to health care 36% Lower health care costs 19 Extension of dependent coverage 14 Health reform will help general 7 Other insurance reforms 6 Help dealing with pre existing conditions 5 Don t know/refused Note: Other and Don t know/refused answers not shown. 5
SLIDE 11 Cost Most Frequently Cited Negative Effect of Health Reform Law So far, would you say you and your family have been negatively affected by the healthreform law, ornot? Among the who say they have been negatively affected by the health reform law: In what ways would you say you have been negatively affected by the health reform law? 76% No Yes 4% Negative Effect Percent who mentioned Cost 45% Cuts to benefits/fewer options 15 Unable to get/dropped by insurance 8 Bad for businesses 7 Harm to Medicare/seniors 3 Declining quality of care 3 Don t know/refused Note: Only responses of 3% or more shown. Other and Don t know/refused answers not shown. SLIDE 12 Most Say They Understand Personal Impact of Health Reform Do you feel you understand what the impact of the health reform law will be on you and your family, or not? Yes No 61% 7 63% 68% 66% 35% 29% 29% May10 Jun10 Jul10 Aug10 Dec10 Note: Don t know/refused answers not shown. 6
SLIDE 13 Sources of Health Reform Information Percent who say they have gotten any information about the health reform law from each of the following: Newspapers, radio news, or other online news sources Conversations with friends and family Cable TV news channels/websites (CNN, FOX, MSNBC) National broadcast network news channels/websites (ABC, NBC, CBS) Local TV news stations/websites 66% 64% 61% 58% 57% Health insurance company Employer Federal agencies such as HHS/websites State agencies/websites (state Medicaid office or health department) 22% 17% 17% SLIDE 14 Health Care Reform and Cable TV News: The Specifics Have you gotten any information about the health reform law from cable TV news channels such as CNN, FOX, or MSNBC, or their websites, or not? Would you say you are mainly getting information from CNN, FOX News, MSBNC, or some other cable news channel? FOX 21% 38% Have not gotten information from cable TV 61% Have gotten information from cable TV CNN Some other cable news channel 9% MSNBC 7% 1% Don t know/ Refused Don t know 6% 7
SLIDE 15 Many Put Off Care Due to Cost Percent who say they or another family member living in their household, have done each of the following because of the cost: Relied on home remedies or over the counter drugs instead of going to see a doctor Skipped dental care or checkups Put off or postponed getting health care needed Not filled a prescription for a medicine Skipped a recommended medical test or treatment Cut pills in half or skipped doses of medicine 37% 36% 26% Had problems getting mental health care 9% Yes to any of the above 54% SLIDE 16 Families Experiencing Multiple Problems in Face of Economic Downturn Have you or your family experienced any of the following problems as a result of the economic downturn, or not? Yes, and was serious problem Had problems getting a good paying job or a raise in pay Yes, but was not serious problem Total Yes Experienced Problem 1 41% Lost money in the stock market 19% 16% 35% Had work hours cut or had to take a pay cut 21% 11% Had problems paying for health care and health insurance 11% Had problems paying for gas 19% 12% Had problems paying your rent or mortgage 7% Had problems with credit card debt or other personal debt 15% 1 Lost a job 19% 4% 23% Had problems paying for food 9% 23% Lost health insurance coverage 13% 6% 19% Delayed retirement or returned to work from retirement 9% 7% 16% Yes, serious problem to any of the above 56% 8
SLIDE 17 Economic Problems Widespread Among the Uninsured and Low Income Percent who report All Lower income Americans Uninsured (under age 65) Problems paying medical bills 36% 48% Putting off needed care because of cost 54 66 85 Any serious economic problem 56 67 82 SLIDE 18 Methodology This Kaiser Health Tracking Poll was designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation led by Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., including Claudia Deane, Sarah Cho, and Theresa Boston. The survey was conducted December 1 through December 6, 2010, among a nationally representative random sample of 1,207 adults ages 18 and older. Telephone interviews conducted by landline (803) and cell phone (404, including 142 who had no landline telephone) were carried out in English and Spanish by Princeton Survey Research Associates. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For results based on other subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. VOL indicates that a response was volunteered by respondent, not an explicitly offered choice. Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. 9
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Headquarters 2400 Sand Hill Road Menlo Park, CA 94025 Phone: (650) 854-9400 Fax: (650) 854-4800 Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center 1330 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347-5270 Fax: (202) 347-5274 www.kff.org This publication (#8127-C) is available on the Kaiser Family Foundation website at www.kff.org. The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible analysis and information on health issues.